United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy, Federal penitentiary in Martin County, Kentucky
The United States Penitentiary, Big Sandy is a federal prison in Martin County in eastern Kentucky. The compound consists of several housing blocks for high-security inmates and a separate minimum-security camp for prisoners nearing release.
The prison opened in the early 2000s on land that had been used for mountaintop removal coal mining. After extensive site preparation, the facility began operations in 2003 and has served as a federal high-security institution ever since.
The facility runs training workshops where inmates learn trades and skills that prepare them for work after release. Several classrooms and vocational areas give participants a chance to earn certificates in fields like welding or carpentry.
The compound sits in a rural part of the Appalachian foothills, roughly two hours south of Lexington by car. Visitors should expect strict security checks and plan to register ahead of time.
A large share of the inmates were convicted for offenses committed in Washington D.C. This arrangement stems from a late 1990s federal law that reorganized how prisoners from the capital are housed.
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